Daily Notes of Grace

Women of Grace / OPUS lunch -- Messenger 9 / 2010

Women of Grace / OPUS 

Combined Lunch

September 9

at 12:30 p.m.

in Fellowship Hall

Men and Women are invited 

and welcome!

Program: Karla Chandler 

will portray Carrie ton Bloom. 

author of Hiding Place 

telling her experiences in prison camp during World War II

 Door donation: $5.00 

Fall cleanup - Messenger 9 / 2010

FALL CLEANUP

Mark your calendar and 

join in the fall grounds cleanup.

Something for everyone.  

Secret gardeners who have adopted an area, share with us how the cleanup

crew can help you, especially big projects.  All are welcome!

Second Saturdays of the month 

from 10 am - 12 pm

Saturday, September 11

Saturday October 9

Saturday November 13

Contact Denise Krell (908) 693-5156  

or dlkrell@gmail.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters -- Messenger 9 / 2010

From Senior Pastor Saïd Ailabouni

Dear Brothers and 

Sisters in Christ, 

Pastor Saïd recaps the month to come:

Rally Day is set for Sunday, September 12.

   Midweek ministries will resume Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings on September 13 and 15. The focus will be on Jesus through the witness of the early church, as recorded in The Acts of the Apostles. 

   New staff should be in place by the time you read this issue of The Messenger. A letter about new staff, an updated organizational chart and a description of “who to go to” should be arriving in your mailbox any day. 

To read Pastor Said's letter, click here.

Financials through 7/09 -- Messenger 9 / 2010

     YTD financials through July 31

                         2010               2009

                                            Actual         Budget           Actual  

    Offerings                         443,915     467,908         467,509

    Special Appeal           0           0           30,130

    Focus Benevolences            17,795         6,500             7,038

         Total income                    461,710     474,408         504,677

    Expenses       

      Personnel                       341,361     348,137         338,822

      Operating / Program              108,550     111,095           95,262

      Benevolence paid                   72,134       65,000           58,097

           Total expenses.         522,045     524,232         492,181

      Surplus / deficit          (60,335)     (49,824)         12,496 

      Fund transfers                        55,000       49,000                 0

     Net                    (5,335)         (824)          12,496 

 July Financial Update

Results in July were somewhat improved. However, total offerings through July 2010, exclusive of contributions for special and focus appeals, were still 5 per cent short of the amount budgeted and were well below last year. Combined personnel and operating expenses were slightly lower than budget. Scheduled benevolence payments to the Chicago Metro Synod have been reduced. As a result of the offerings shortfall, transfers totaling $55,000 were required to help cover the operating budget deficit.

   Your help is needed to help close the deficit. Thank you for your continued financial support.

Giving made easier

Set up Grace Lutheran Church as a payee in your bank’s online bill-payment system to avoid writing checks. Use the church’s address at 200 N. Catherine Avenue, La Grange IL 60525 and your envelope number as the account number. Use the memo section in your bank’s bill payment program to specify the purpose of your check, (e.g. weekly offering, designated blue-envelope benevolence, a special appeal). 

   More members are scheduling their weekly and monthly offerings in this manner. Contact Gary Hill, Treasurer  with questions.

Bishop Younan elected President of LWF -- Messenger 9 / 2010

Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has been elected President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) by the Eleventh Assembly. 

   Younan succeeds Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who has been President of the LWF since the organization’s last Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada, in 2003.

   Younan is a former vice-president of the LWF.

   He is the author of Witnessing for Peace, a book about the search for peace in his homeland and numerous articles on churches and the search for peace in the Holy Land.

   His wife, Suad, is Director of the Helen Keller School in the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Hanina, which educates visually-impaired children. She is also the chair of the women’s committee of the ELCJHL.

   The couple has three children and one grandchild.

To read the whole article about Bishop Younan, click here

Children’s Church Starting this Month -- Messenger 9 / 2010

A new worship experience for young children will be offered this fall, beginning Sunday, September 19. Children’s Church is designed to help young children understand the message of the day in an age-appropriate format, while preparing them for fuller participation in worship as they grow older.

   During the lessons and sermon at the 11 a.m. worship, children ages two through six will be invited to join Tim Weisman, Pastoral Assistant for Youth Education and Music, and several volunteers to hear God’s word from the colorful Spark Story Bible and engage in music or other activities related to the theme of the day. Children will return to worship during the offering or offertory response to be with their families for the meal and sending portions of the service. 

   Help is needed from people who love to tell stories or sing songs with children! Please contact Tim Weisman, Pastor Flessen or Janet Kings at (708) 352-0730 to learn more 

Prayer Service for Peace in the Middle East -- Messenger 9 / 2010

On Wednesday, September 15th at 7:30 p.m., a Prayer Service for Peace in the Middle East will be held at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 East Main Street in Barrington.

   All are welcome to attend this service of reading from the Bible, music, prayer, and sharing of timely information.  As part of an ecumenical effort that began in December 2000 to more fully support faithful prayer until a just and lasting peace comes to all citizens of the Middle East, participating churches in Illinois hold similar services on the 15th of each month.  Call 847-381-0243 or click here to learn more.

   Among the numerous organizations worldwide that promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as an alternative to hatred and revenge is one called Parents Circle - Families Forum (begun in 1995).  If you’re not yet aware of its unique efforts or haven’t taken a look at their Web site for a while, click here.  All Forum members have lost immediate family members due to the violence in the region, and the Personal Stories and Activities areas of the site may be especially interesting to explore.

Calling trainees for Stephen Ministry -- Messenger 9 / 2010

Stephen Ministry, now at Grace for 20 years, calls all people who enjoy listening to others’ stories, those who have the gift of empathy, and those whose faith informs and strengthens their relationships with others! 

   This is the “last call” for the Stephen Ministry training session set to begin Thursday, September 30. 

   Pastor Susan Gerow is happy to provide a class schedule and Stephen Ministry application to anyone considering answering this call. She is available at (708) 352-0730, ext. 211, and s.gerow@gracelutheran-lg.org. 

   Stephen Ministry leaders and ministers will host coffee hour at 10 a.m., Sunday, September 12, in Fellowship Hall. Cake, refreshments and resources will be provided!

Information about Stephen Ministers – what they do and how they help in congregations – can be found at the Stephen Ministers web site. http://www.stephenministries.org/stephenministry/default.cfm/928

Click here for the whole Stephen Ministers article.

Health and Wellness - Messenger 9 / 2010

Mark your calendar for upcoming Health and Wellness Events this fall: 

Wed.,Sep. 1  Finding Ways to a Healthier Lifestyle:

     “Risk Factors of Stroke, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Osteoporosis”

     Sponsored by Life Line Screening

     11:15a.m.-12:15p.m.,Kensington Room

Thur. Sep. 9     Life Line Preventative Health Screening

     Plymouth Place beginning at 9 a.m.

     registration required

Fri. Oct. 1    Life Line Preventative Health Screening

     Congregational Church of Lagrange beginning at 9 a.m.

     registration required

Wed. Oct. 6     Flu Shots 

     sponsored by Maxim

     9 a.m. -1 p.m. in Kensington Room

Sun. Oct. 17    Flu Shots 

     sponsored by Maxim

     8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. in Kensington Room

Sat. Oct. 30     Congregational Health 

     Screening Fair

      7:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

      Congregational Church of Western Springs

     registration required

Wed. Nov. 3    Finding Ways to a Healthier Lifestyle:

     “Now You Know Your ABC’s About Vitamins, Mineral sand Supplements”

     Presented by Cindy Nissen, RN, MSN, CWOCN

     11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. in Kensington Room

I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)

Ann Gornik, R.N., M.S.N., F.C.N., 

Advocate Parish Nurse

Time to Register, Volunteer for LOGOS -- Messenger 9 / 2010

LOGOS starts next month.It’s time to register kids and volunteers!

   

   LOGOS will meet Wednesdays, following the local school calendars, from 5 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. beginning, Wednesday, October 6. (The start time for LOGOS is 15 minutes later this year to accommodate the schedules of youth and volunteers.) LOGOS is open for children ages preschool through eighth grade. 

   For more information, either pick up a detailed brochure in Fellowship Hall or go to www.gracelutheran-lg.org to download a registration form. Questions may be directed to Alice Oscarson at (708) 415-4379. Forms can be submitted to the church office.

   “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.” Acts 2:42

More information about LOGOS can be found by clicking here. 

To read the entire LOGOS article, click here